Worm joint pliers or wrench



June 29;194s. w. c. KRES S 2,444,135

WORM JOINT PLIERS 0R WRENCHES Filed Jan. 31, 1944 INVENTOR Patented June 2 9, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE:

Willardr C. Kress, Grand Island, N. Y., assignor to J. 11. Williams & Co.,,Bufii'alo-, N. Y.

Application JanuaryBl, 1944 Serial No. 520;483

One object of the invention is to provide a 1 practical anddesirable wrench of improved, novel construction.

Other objectsof the invention are to provide a wrench or pliers which is of desirable, strong and durable but simple construction, composed of the minimum number of parts; which, while of sturdy construction, is-of compact form, and is not bulky, and in which the adjusting means for the adjustable jaw is located between the planes of the opposite sides of the wrench and does'not protrude from thebody of the wrench so as to hinder its convenient useor be liable to be struck and injured, and thus possibly prevent easy manipulation of the wrench or the adjusting means; and in which the parts are so constructed andarranged that whileenabling the ready assembling thereof, will prevent unintentional disconnection or separationand possible lossof any of the parts.

Another object oftheinvention is to provide an improved tool which has the advantages of an adjustable jaw wrench and also of pliers for gripping objects over a range of sizes and which is relatively simple, sturdy, easily adjusted for difierent sizes andinexpensive.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following specification of the preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in the accompanying drawings, and the novel features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a wrench or pliers embodying my invention;

Fig.1 2' is a fragmentary edge elevation thereof as viewed from theleftin- Fig. 1; i

Fig. 3 is a transverse section thereof on line 3-3, Fig. 1; i 1 a i Fig. 4 is asection thereof on an enlarged scale on line 4'-4, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the fulcrum piece removed-from the wrench.

The pliers or wrench-in the: construction-inns trated inthe drawings, which is considered the preferred embodimentiof the invention, comprises 7 Claims. (Cl; 81-83) two jaw members In? and H: which are pivota-lly connected between their endsfor moving-the jaws 12- and 13 at one end of said memberstoward and from each other by operating the, opposite ct -handle ends l llandl 15 of the members; The member II] has a" slot or chamber L6 extending from edge to edge through anintermediate portion of. the member between: its jaw andihandle ends, through which-the intermediate portion H of the other member Il passes and in which it is pivotally and slidably movable for operating and relatively adjusting the-plier jaws, said slot or chamber being formed between parallel side walls l8 and H! of the member ill at opposite sides of the intermediate portion= I'l of the other member H; As showng the member I10 is ofapproximately uniform thickness throughout, while the intermediate portion I 1" ofthe other member is disposed at arrangle to its jaw and handle ends and is of reduced-thickness, adapting it-t'o move inthe slot l-B while-the jaw and handle portions l d-and IE of the member I I= may correspond in thickness or 'Width with the thickness of" the member 1-0; The end walls of the slot l6 are indicated by the broken lines Ilia, 16b in Fig 1, and asshown inFig. 1, the section ilic ofsaidend wall Ilia, at the outer edge ofthe jaw member 1-0 is preferably disposed parallel with the abutting edge l-Ta of portion l 'l whenabutting it, so that whenthe jaws are relatively positioned approximately parallel, as for gripping an object, the engagement of said wall section Mic with the adjacent edgel'la of the jaw member ll will arrest the opening pivotal movement of the jaws beyond a position in which the opposed gripping faces are parallel with each other, or approximately so,- in any=pivotal spacing adjustment of the jaws, thereby ensuring a firm grip of the object' and enabling the device to be used as an open jaw wrench. This stopping of the jaws l2 and I3 with their gripping faces approximately parallel at their uppermost position, is an important feature; and' makes the device useful as a=wrench with vast increase in torque that can be appli'ed not dependent on the squeezing pressure ot oneshand'a It also has usefulness as pliers with jaws adjustable towards and from its opposite end portions bearing and adapted to rotate in circular bearing holes 22 and 23 in the side walls I8 and I9 of the member I0, and its side walls approximately parallel to the edge I la. Intermediate of its ends, the fulcrum piece is notched or recessed at opposite sides thereof, as best shown at 24, 25, Fig. 5, thus forming a waist portion of .reduced diameter adapted to pass through and slide lengthwise in the guide opening or slot 2|. This reduced waist 26 may, as shown, have opposite, straight faces adapted to slidably bear against the opposite long edges of the guide slot 2!, while the segmental, circular end bearing portions of the fulcrum piece overlap or straddle said opposite side edges of the slot 2|. The fulcrum piece is thus adapted to slide lengthwise in the slot 2| to set the jaw I2 nearer to or farther from the opposing jaw I3, the member If! being adapted to turn or pivot on the fulcrum piece in any adjustment thereof in the slot 2 I, but the fulcrum piece is retained in the guide slot against displacement through either side of the slot, and the closed ends of the slot prevent escape of the fulcrum piece through either end of the slot.

The fulcrum piece is adjusted lengthwise in the guide slot 2| for'regulating the spacing of the jaws by an adjusting screw or screw threaded cylinder 2'! rotatably mounted in a cavity 23 in the fulcrum piece with the axis of the screw disposed diametrically of the fulcrum piece and parallel with the longitudinal side edges of the guide slot. As shown, the adjusting screw 2'! is rotatably mounted by a pin or axle 29 extending through an axial hole in the adjusting screw and bearing at its opposite ends in holes 30 and 3I in opposite sides of the fulcrum piece. One end of this axle pin may be enlarged and threaded to screw into the internally threaded hole 3I of the fulcrum piece for securing the axle pin in place, and this end of the pin may be slotted or otherwise suitably shaped for the engagement of a screwdriver or other tool for securing and removing the pin. The threads of the adjusting screw 21 have screw engagementwith segmental screw threads or teeth 32 formed on one longitudinal edge of the guide slot 2|, so that by rotating the adjusting screw in one or the other direction, the fulcrum piece and the jaw member II] which is pivoted thereon, are adjusted toward or from the opposing jaw I3, as may be necessary to effect the desired setting of the jaws relatively to each other. The threads of the adjusting screw 27 may be knurled so that the adjusting screw can be readily turned by gripping it between the thumb and finger, and preferably the opposite ends of the fulcrum piece are concaved or depressed as shown at 33, to facilitate the firm gripping of the screw between the finger and thumb. Also, preferably the side walls I8 and I9 of the jaw member I0 of the pliers are bevelled or concaved at 34 immediately adjacent the bearing holes 22 and 23, for the same purpose.

A compression spring 35 is shown between that end of the adjusting screw nearest to the jaw end of the pliers and the adjacent end wall of the cavity 28 in the fulcrum piece, this spring being shown as a coil spring surrounding the axle pin 26 in a cavity in the end of the adjusting screw. This spring acts to press the adjusting screw against the cooperating threads 32 on the jaw member I I in such a way as to bias the movable jaw I2 toward the opposing jaw I3 and thereby take up lost motion or play between the cooperating threads of the adjusting screw and of the plier member I i, and thus ensure a more accurate. and

4 stable adjustment or setting of the adjustable jaw. This spring furthermore acts frictionally to prevent unintentional rotation of the adjusting screw with resulting disturbance of the setting of the jaws.

As will be readily apparent from the drawings, each of the two members I0 and II of the pliers can be made as a single, integral forging, and the spaced side walls I8 and I9 of the member It! can be spread apart sufliciently to permit the passage between them of the thicker jaw or handle portion of the other member and the walls then pressed back to the normal position in which they slidably contact the opposite faces of the intermediate portion I? of the other plier member. The fulcrum or pivot 20 for the jaw members is made in a single, integral piece which is of substantial diameter and forms a strong pivot or fulcrum for the jaw members; and the only additional parts of the pliers are the adjusting screw and its mounting means and spring. Therefore, the pliers are composed of the minimum number of parts and are of sturdy, durable construction. The fulcrum adjusting screw is located between the ends of the fulcrum piece, and the fulcrum piece need not project beyond the outer faces of the side Walls of the member ID, or that is, the opposite side faces of the pliers, so that the fulcrum and its adjusting means do not protrude laterally so as to interfere with the ready, convenient use of thepliers, or so as to be liable to be struck and broken or mutilated. The guide opening 2| is preferably provided near one end thereof with side extensions or enlargements 36 so that in assembling the parts, by shifting the plier members so as to place the bearing holes of the member I0 in registration with these lateral enlargements of the guide openings, the fulcrum piece can be inserted through one of the bearing holes 22 or 23 and through the enlargement guide open- I ing, as indicated by the broken lines representing the fulcrum piece in Fig. 1. Then by shifting the member ID and fulcrum piecesidewise in the guide opening 2I to cause its end bearing portions to straddle that edge of the guide opening which is opposite said enlargements 36, which position of the fulcrum piece is shown by the full lilies in Fig. l, the adjusting screw can be inserted into the cavity 28 in the fulcrum piece in engagement with the thread segments 32 and the adjusting screw rotatably secured in place by screwing in its axial pin 29 by means of a screwdriver inserted between the side walls of the member Iii through the guide opening 2|. The parts can be disassembled by reversal of this procedure, as will be apparent. When the adjusting screw 21 is thus secured in place the fulcrum piece cannot escape or be displaced from the guide opening 2i either sidewise or endwise thereof. Therefore, the parts of the pliers cannot become disconnected and separated unintentionally,with consequent possible loss.

I claim as my invention:

1. Pliers or the like comprising two pivotally connected jaw members forming opposing gripping jaws and one of which is m'ovably confined between spaced opposite side walls of the second member, said first member having an elongated guide opening with closedends extending lengthwise in said member, one longitudinal edge of which opening is provided with screw thread segments, a segmental cylindrical fulcrum piece passing through said guide opening and having "its opposite ends extending into and rotatable in circular bearing openings in said opposite side walls a (its aid second member, said fulcrum piece having parallel transverse notches in the opposite sides of its: periphery in which the: oppositeedges; of-l said guide opening-slida'blyengage to slidably confine saidfulcrum piece in :said guidelopening; and an adjusting screw whlich is rotata'blyl mounted in a longitudinali' cavity in Said i fulcrum: piece be tween-i. the ends thereof: and" isT vlocateditowtravel lengthwise in said guide opening with its screwi threadLeng-aging saidrthread segments for adjusting said fulcrum piece lengthwise of said first member by the-"rotationof said'adjusting screw, said adjusting screw being exposed throughsaid cavity at the opposite ends of said-fulcrum piece for rotating the adjustingscrew, and said fulcrum piece and adjusting screw being disposed approximatelyrswholly between theqpl'anes of the -outerr' faces of-said opposite sidewalls-s of said" second members '-w l l 2; In pliers or the like havingtwo=pivotally connected members forming opposing :gripping jaws, the-improvement comprising; the provision 1210116 of-said members of a-gu-ide openingwith closedrends; said opening ha-vinggopposite guide edges one OfRWhiCh. is provided'rwith screw thread segments, a segmental cylindrical fulcrum 1 piece passing through said guide slot and extending into: a-bearing hole in said. second member: in which it is'rotatable for pivotallyconnecting said members, said fulcrum piece having transverse notches in opposite sides of its periphery in which said opposite edges of said guide opening slidably engage and retain said fulcrum piece in said opening, and an adjusting screw which is rotatably confined in a longitudinal cavity in said fulcrum piece between the ends of the fulcrum piece in position to travel in said guide opening with its screw thread engaging said thread segments for adjusting said fulcrum piece in said guide opening by the rotation of said screw.

3. A tool comprising a pair of jaw members, one of which has intermediate of its ends, a slot from edge to edge through which the other member passes, and a passage from face to face through and crosswise of said slot, said other member in its portion which passes through said slot having an aperture from face to face and elongated with straight sides in a direction lengthwise of that portion, a pivot element having a generally cylindrical shape from which a small segment has been cut off to form a flat side, passing through said passage and aperture of said members and rotatably fitting said passage on opposite sides of said slot, said element having a 'kerf along said flat side and another parallel kerf directly opposite it, which kerfs slidingly receive opposite side edges of said aperture, said element having an opening in its interior, and a worm screw rotatably mounted in said opening with its axis of rotation approximately parallel to said straight sides of said aperture, one of said straight sides of said aperture having teeth with which said worm screw meshes, whereby rotation of said screw will move said apertured member through said slot, corresponding ends of said members being formed to provide opposing jaws which approach each other or separate when said screw is rotated.

4. A tool comprising a pair of jaw members, one of which has, intermediate of its ends, a slot from edge to edge through which the other member passes, and a passage from face to face through and endwise of said slot, said other member in its portion which passes through said slot having an aperture from face to face and elongated with straight sides in a direction length- 6" wise of that: portion;- a L pivot element having a generally cylindrical sliape from: which a small segment: has beemcutfofl to'form a flat sidel pass ing through said passage and aperture of said members? and rotatably fitting said passage on opposite sides: of said slot; said e1ement having akerf alongs saidi fiati side and another parallel kerf direotlwopposite iti which-kerfs slidingly re ceiv-e opposite: side edges. ofsaid" aperture; said elementzhaving iaznotcliienteringits interior from saidiflatiside? and crosswise -of said fiat-aside; andl a i worm screws rotatably: mountedinnsaid notch with its axis'iot' rotatiom approximately parallel to saidi kerfs; .one of saidi straight sides of said aperture having teeth: with which said worm screw meshes; andtib'yi which saidlpivot L- element may be relatively shifted along saidxaperture through: rotationx of said screw, one pain of cor:- responding ends oft said members! being'formed ass-opposingjaws :whicli': approach and separate:

upon rotation-ion said screw, the other pairrof corresponding .ends ofssaidEmembersabeing f ormed: to provideihandles lth'at l extend: generallyiparallel whenttheijaws: are'rgenerally parallel;

5. A tool comprising;. a pair; of jaw members; one ofiwhich has, intermediate ofits ends, a slot from edge%to:-edge through wwhichl-theiother memrbenpassesg. and a passage: fromtface" to: face through and endwise of-said S10t-,:-S&id: othen member in its portion which passes through said slot having an aperture from face to face and elongated with straight sides in a direction lengthwise of that portion, a pivot element having a generally cylindrical shape from which a small segment has been cut off to form a fiat side, passing through said passage and aperture of said members and rotatably fitting said passage on opposite sides of said slot, said element having a kerf along said fiat side and another parallel kerf directly opposite it, which kerfs slidingly receive opposite side edges of said aperture, said element having a notch entering its interior from said flat side and crosswise of said fiat side, and a worm screw rotatably mounted in said notch with its axis of rotation approximately parallel to said kerfs, one of said straight sides of said aperture having teeth with which said worm screw meshes, and by which said pivot element may be relatively shifted along said aperture through rotation of said screw, one pair of corresponding ends of said members being formed as opposing jaws which approach and separate upon rotation of said screw, the other pair of corresponding ends of said members being formed to provide handles that extend generally parallel when the jaws are generally parallel, said side edge of said aperture with said teeth having, adjacent its end farthest from said jaws, notches of a depth and with a spacing apart that will clear the pivot element at opposite sides of the entrance of said notch.

6. A tool comprising a pair of jaw members, one of which has, intermediate of its ends, a slot from edge to edge through which the other member passes, and a passage from face to face through, and crosswise of, said slot, said other member, in its portion which passes through said slot having an aperture from face to face and elongated with straight sides in a direction lengthwise of that portion, with worm teeth formed in one of said straight sides, a pivot element having ends rotatably received in the ends of said passage in said one member, and passing through said slot, said element having portions straddling at least one of the edges of said slot to prevent removal of said element, a

screw ,rotatably mounted in the interior of said element and meshing with said rack teethxalong one edge of said slot, said slot, adjacent one. end, havingan enlarged portion through which the straddling portion of said element'may pass to insert or remove the pivot element and screw.

'7. Pliers or the like comprising two pivotally connected jaw members forming opposing gripping jaws and one .of which is movably confined between spaced opposite side walls of the second member, said first member having an elongated guide opening with closed ends extending lengthwise in said member, one longitudinal edge of which openingis provided with screw thread segments, afulcrum piece passing through and slidable lengthwise insaid guide opening and having bearing portions at its opposite ends rotatable in bearing holes in said side walls of said second member, said fulcrum piece having parts which straddle the edges of said guide opening and pre-' vent axial displacement of the fulcrum piece from said guide opening, and an adjusting screw which is rotatable in a cavity in said fulcrum piece between the opposite ends thereof and is located to move lengthwise in said guide opening with its thread engaging said thread segments for adjusting said fulcrum piece lengthwise-of said first member by the rotation of said adjusting screw,

said adjusting screw being removabiy mounted 8 in said fulcrum piece and said guide slot being provided at one portion thereof with lateral enlargements into which said fulcrum piece is shiftable laterally when said adjusting screw is removed from the fulcrum piece, thereby adapting said fulcrum piece to pass through said guide opening and bearing holes in said members for assembling. and disassembling the parts of the pliers.

WILLARD C. KRESS.

REFERENCES crrnn The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

